Tag Archives: housing
UK property prices continue upward as sales fall, latest index shows
Property prices increased by 0.4% overall in England and Wales in August and 0.3% in Scotland but sales fell to a new record low for the month, according to the latest real estate index. Property prices increased by 0.4% overall in England and Wales in August and 0.3% in Scotland but sales fell to a new record low for the month, according to the latest real estate index. The data from Home.co.uk show that the South East remains the UK’s fastest moving regional market and prices outdo Greater London with a six month rise of 6.1%. Overall year on year prices were up 6.5% but this rise to 12.8% of £60,000 in Greater London. Asking prices rose in all English regions, Scotland and Wales month on month with the biggest rises in the East of England and the South East at 0.9% and 1% respectively. The index report says that buyer demand and short supply in London and the southern regions continues to drive the national average higher, but at a lesser rate than last year. The supply crisis is worsening and August recorded the lowest number of properties entering the market for that month since the onset of the financial crisis. It suggests that the key driver for demand is the availability of mortgage finance, which remains abundant. Talk of interest rate rises at the Bank of England has not dented buyers’ appetite. Competition between investors remains fierce in London and surrounding regions where the lack of supply is felt most keenly. Indeed, the data shows that in London and the East of England, the volumes of properties entering the market are down 15% and 18% respectively year on year and down 75% and 73% compared with August 2008. ‘These and other southern regions are clearly sellers’ markets and prices remain firmly on an upward trajectory. Marketing times in the South East region have been the lowest in the country since February. Across much of the nation, marketing times are currently around the lowest we have witnessed since 2008,’ said Doug Shephard, the firm’s director. But he pointed out that in the North marketing times are considerably higher than in the South and prices are not rising appreciably and he predicts further upward pressure on prices over the coming months although the North-South divide remains one of the most daunting imbalances in the UK economy. ‘Whilst the stimulus enabled property boom rages in London and the southern regions, the northern markets continue to stagnate. Price appreciation over the last 12 months in the northern regions lay in the range -0.2% to 1.4%,’ said Shephard. ‘Wales too shows little or no sign of market recovery, with a rise of just 1.4% since September 2014. Looking back across the last five years, we can see clearly the dramatic polarisation that has taken place in the UK property market. Only three regions surpassed the average growth for England and Wales, namely London, the South… Continue reading
Easy mortgage access for home buyers in the US tightens
Access to mortgage credit in the United States tightened in the first quarter of 2015, marking a pause in easy accessibility for buyers. It had been getting progressively easier to obtain a mortgage since 2012, but the first several months of this year marked a change, according to according to the latest Zillow Mortgage Access Index (ZMAI). Mortgage credit availability is almost unchanged from a year ago, meaning despite fluctuations from quarter to quarter, there has been little progress toward making mortgages easier to obtain over the last year. In the long term, experts expect mortgage access to continue improving. In a survey earlier this summer of more than 100 economists and housing experts, more than 60% said they expect mortgage regulations to loosen further, with many expressing concern the market will become too lax over the next year. A high number in the Zillow Mortgage Access Index means credit is easier to obtain, while a lower number means credit is tighter. Mortgage credit was easiest to obtain in July 2004, when the ZMAI reached 136.4. But availability tightened over the next few years. In May 2007, both the housing and mortgage availability began a multi year plunge, leaving home values down more than 22% and credit the tightest in recent history. Mortgages were the toughest to obtain in September 2010, when the ZMAI was at 11.8. Today, access to mortgage credit has improved significantly, and is at 65, more than two thirds of the way back to 2002 pre-crisis levels. 'Recent market volatility is causing some lenders to be more cautious in their underwriting. Tighter mortgage access will make it harder for people with low credit scores to get a home loan, and even people who can get approved for a mortgage will have fewer options in terms of available mortgage products,' said Zillow chief economist Svenja Gudell. Continue reading
Latest Help to Buy figures reveals success of flagship UK govt scheme
The UK government's flagship Help to Buy scheme has helped nearly 120,000 people achieve their aspiration of buying a new home since it was created, the latest figures reveal. Since the launch of the Help to Buy equity loan and mortgage guarantee schemes some 80% of scheme completions have been made by first time buyers, with more expected when the government’s Help to Buy ISA launches in December. The data also shows that the average house price under the scheme was £186,000, significantly below the national average and over 110,000 people have bought a home through the scheme with 95% sales outside of London and half for new build homes. This counters fears that the scheme might be loaded against first time buyers and especially those seeking to buy homes outside of the capital city. Over 90,000 have been first time buyers. Together with the government’s Help to Buy: NewBuy scheme, which offers 95% mortgages for those buying new build properties, the number of new home owners has reached over 118,000. Help to Buy is also ensuring the long-term health of the housing market by increasing housing supply, stimulating home building. Half of the homes bought through Help to Buy are new-build properties, helping to contribute to the 36% rise in private house building since the launch of Help to Buy. First time buyers will have a further boost from the Help to Buy ISA, which banks and building societies across the UK will offer from 01 December. Under this scheme, first time buyers can save up to £200 a month towards their first home and the government will boost their savings by 25%, or £50 for every £200, up to a £3,000 bonus. Six major lenders have already signed up to offer Help to Buy: ISAs. These lenders are Barclays, Lloyds Bank, Nationwide, Natwest, Santander and Virgin Money. 'This government is committed to helping people achieve the aspiration of buying their own home, and our Help to Buy schemes have now helped nearly 120,000 working people across the UK do just that,' said Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. 'The stronger economy and financial system means we expect banks to start to exit our Help to Buy Mortgage scheme, and it was introduced in times of financial distress and will come to an end next year in any case,' he pointed out. 'The Help to Buy shared equity scheme goes from strength to strength and our new Help to Buy ISA we’re launching in December will provide generous support to those saving for their first home by providing a government boost on their deposit,' he added. Communities Secretary Greg Clark said it has also helped the construction sector with private house building up by more than a third since the launch of the scheme. Indeed, Home Builders Federation executive chairman Stewart Baseley, said Help to Buy continues to drive demand for new build homes. 'Its success is allowing builders to increase the number of homes… Continue reading
